I came here today to have high tea with my nan for her 75th bday first time for us both and to say it was perfect is a understatement this place was amazing the service the food everthing was perfection they even wrote a special 75th bday msg on a cake for her at no extra charge we will 100% be back again thanks again
Sheer delights, Devonshire tea as a treat for my Mum and Dad, staff so friendly and obliging to make my Dad comfortable with his seating thankyou so much, they loved the view near the majestic tree with the colourful feathered friends who pop in for a snack of seed . Definitely worth the drive.
Service was amaZing and the food to die for. You have to try the chilli scrambled!! We were there with 8 people and had a variety of food, it was all great! Highly recommend!
We enjoyed a High Tea here and were not disappointed. Have been to a few High Teas around Melbourne and this was my favourite. Delicious savouries and sandwiches followed by yummy treats finishing off with the best scone. Unlimited coffees and an assortment of teas and friendly staff. Will definitely be returning 🥪🍰☕️😋
Beautiful meals. Lovely atmosphere. Top notch waiter. Thankyou for a lovely dining experience. Pancakes were to die for
We booked at Kallista for aftetnoon tea.
The food was wonderful. I had a Devonshire tea. The scones were huge and so light.
We would visit again. Staff really friendly too
Great breakfast menu. Our family post wedding get-together breakfast usually puts staff to the test. Cellia was great.
I have been going to kallista tea rooms for years and the food and service is always fantastic. The new menu is great and delicious. 😊
Lovely food, lovely location and lovely staff. Also a wonderful kids menu. Beautiful atmosphere.
What a lovely little place. The best scones I have ever had. The cockatoos were amazing sitting outside the window. Service was great, definitely recommend.
To celebrate Mother's Day, I booked a high tea for myself, my mum and my dad. Everything was amazing! Sensational food, drinks (as many as you like!) and service...and what a lovely view! The afternoon sunlight through the trees and a few rosellas perched on the branches near our window. I enjoyed all of the food, but my favourite tier was the last one! Blondies, salted caramel tarts, vanilla bean cheesecake and yummy figs!! :D Wonderful experience and such a great price. Highly recommended!
Had high tea there. Very good experience! Friendly service, good environment and delicious food. Will definitely come again!
Definitely need to return here it's such beautiful cafe
The Gluten-Free Foodie
+5
What a treasure of a spot in the Dandenongs! Delicious food and I love a cafe that serves into the late afternoon. I had the lamb salad which was more tasty than I thought it would be. We then shared a blueberry cheesecake piece for dessert - so delicious. I was pleasantly surprised to see a good range of gluten free and dairy free options, even in the desserts. The only thing missing is a gf scone! They look to die for. Can’t wait to go back.
A very cute place with amazing scones! The highlight of this restaurant is definitely their scones. We ordered the traditional plain scones and nutella scone. The nutella scone was good but was too sweet, but the plain one with jam and cream were just right. They were very soft!
Food: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
This was simple food done well. We ordered the breakfast baguette, fresh housemade scones with jam and a chai latte to share. These were the most crumbly and buttery scones we've had. We left wanting more as the additional condiments of the cream and jam further enhanced our experience. Similarly, the breakfast baguette was also delicious and we enjoyed tasting the different components of the dish. To top it off, the drink was also well done and creamy.
Service: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
We love Kallista Teahouse and honestly what is there to not love? This quirky little cafe not only has character, it also has the friendly service to back it up as well. We were seated almost immediately. Staff were friendly and food was served quickly.
Price: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
We thought our meals were a little on the pricier side however these were quality dishes and we thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
(Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5)
Its love at first sight when I saw this place. A cute little tea room with beautiful views. You feel like its just tea and scones kinda place but don't be fooled because they have a mean brunch menu. The menu was so good it was a heard choice. I was so stasified with my meal. Loved the flavours and presentation. The staff here are so lovely, welcoming and knowledgable. Loved the whole experience and would be back In a heart beat.
Ended up here after a hike in the Dandenongs and wasn’t it a pleasant visit. Waited to be seated by the friendly and knowledgeable staff who made the experience that much more worthwhile. Open since 1950 and the seasonal menu has something for everyone. A greet selection of coffee, tea, juices, and milkshakes. I had the chilli scrambled eggs with chorizo which very well executed. The sourdough bread was fresh and the flavours were noticeably tasteful. Would definitely recommend if in the area.
The best chai in the Hills. The staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is upbeat. The staff always have served my order with a smile and the wait has always been minimal. The menu caters for those wanting something safe and tasty ( very well done) but also for those wanting to try something more adventurous like the Zen bowl. Very reliable and wonderful place to eat, well done Kallista Tea Rooms.
So glad we found this place. Accidentally went here, thinking it was another place we were recommended. Very grateful for our mistake! Lovely home baked cakes. Very trendy feel. Bird feeder outside, so as you are enjoying your time you can see birds right outside the window.
Eclectic decor in this one! Great scones; crap coffee - which is a real shame. Service was good, and place felt pretty cosy inside on a rainy day.
We came here after a visit to RJ Hamer Arboretum. We ordered iced chai, Crispy Chicken Burger and Smokey Baked Beans. I love that fresh corn were used instead of canned corn in my baked beans and the Combination of pickled ginger with the crispy chicken. However, I wouldn’t recommend getting the iced chai as it was very bland and the ice cream in the drink was icy.
The Zen bowl with house smoked salmon was delicious as were the vegan balls. Very surprised by the excellent standard and adventurousness of the food as well as the friendly service. Not your average tea rooms. Will be back.
We visited for a family breakfast. The food was very lovely and we all enjoyed our meals. The coffee was great. We loved all of the birds outside. The place is very quaint and has loads of charm. The service was fast and very freindly.
The food was fine except they hard cooked a poached egg. The service was friendly and the meals came out in good time. The place is quite rundown and could use a facelift. They do have good beer available so I really wanted to rate higher but the building needs work and the egg was unforgivable.
Good menu, lovingly home cooked meals and view of the birds feeding at the window of the cafe is entertaining. The customer service is great as the staff are really friendly and attentive. My favourite bit though is the scones, they are the best I've had, and I've tried them a couple of times over the years and they are brilliant.
Everytime I go to Melbourne I make sure I go there for bfast! It's the best place to enjoy a cup of tea and some yummy food! Staff are friendly and the location is amazing! It was a rainy day when we went but it was worth it! I can't wait to go back!
My favourite breakfast spot! There seems to be a lack of specials since change in chefs which is a bit dissappointing but their base menu is quality. Always super friendly service and such a lovely atmosphere.
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Descending along the Monbulk Road past the tiny centre of Kallista is this dainty little tea house that appears to have been stuck in a time warp. You can almost imagine, 50 years ago, that this little place was serving their enormous scones and cream along with bottomless pits of tea, coffee and Lindt hot chocolate.
Never judge a book by its cover, although if you're not a fan of the above, or food prepared with what appears to be excellent produce, or care and attention from friendly, smiling and attentive staff, then stop reading now. I wonder why you would be on a website like Zomato.
Sitting in the bright chilly early spring sunlight, a stack of finger sandwiches, petit pies & quiches, and enough sugar delights to sate even the sweetest tooth, I marvelled at the tastiness of every bit of it. If you do indulge your consumption and aim for the high tea, I guarantee that you won't be disappointed. This isn't the kind of overwhelming craft of the high teas that you might get at the Park Hyatt or the Windsor, but it's does all of the items that it presents exceptionally well; sandwiches that were light and full of flavour, quiches and pastries that were soft and melt-in-your-mouth joy. Petit desserts full of fruit and joy. Well crafted coffee and generous hot chocolate (when you use Lindt, it's pretty hard to lose!)
Wander away from the large windowed area and the room is slightly darker, no less colourful, with a well equipped children's corner (no iPads here! They do have wifi though). Why would you want to be reading something about the real world when there's such great food in front of you? Not to mention families of rosellas, lorikeets, cockatoos and corellas flying by. The place bustles when busy, but is serene when quiet.
The downside? There's no easy way to get up to Kallista by anything other than car - Melbourne apologises for its inability to provide reasonable public transport for the occasional user that lives in a population-sparse mountainous region. While the bus stop is only about 300m away, it's at the end of a 60 minute train journey from the CBD.
Wait a second, what about the food? The ambience?
Oh I already talked about that. If you're a TL:DR reader. Too bad. Just go. You won't regret it. If you take public transport, I commend you even further. This place makes the best reward.
Nice atmosphere with welcoming and friendly staff. It was lovely being able to take high tea while watching the native birds in the surrounding trees outside the windows. The food was yummy and as a vegetarian, I was pleased by the variety. At $45 a head for high tea, it was excellent value for money.
What a gem tucked in the forests ! Loved the ambience -glass windows for bird watching on the branches nearby and friendly service. Our brunch was delicious - loved their corn fritters , hash brown breakfast , chai latte and organic lemongrass lemon verbena tea. Recommended !
This is our favourite place to have a coffee after a walk through Grant's Reserve.
The coffee is excellent. The food is always good. (They have good-free wifi, which is a nice bonus in the hills).
Service: They are so polite and lovely, I just hope that they stop calling people mam & sir. It makes a non-binary person feel very uneasy and uncomfortable. Just a "Hi, what can I get you," is more than all is necessary.
Toilets: Gender Neutral. :)
Wheelchair Access: They have double doors and everything seems accessible, but it just might be tough getting the chair to the cafe in the first place. It's right on the main road and there are windy stairs leading from the carpark to the front door.
Beautiful tea room with stunning views! Service was impeccable. Scones were good but not the best we've ever had. They were a bit crumbly. Jam and cream provided were absolutely delicious! Coffees and hot chocolate were beautiful and portion sizes were generous.
These quaint tearooms have been operating for many years, with numerous changes of ownership. It remains a popular venue in Kallista. My most recent visit didn't disappoint. I had the vegan breakfast burrito, and it was very good, as was the coffee. The menu includes several vegetarian choices. The premises were purpose-built in the 1950s, and feature a "conservatory" style glassed area to view the surrounds, as well as some tables for outside dining. The decor is simple but comfortable, and the service has always been welcoming.
Had a Saturday morning breakfast here and it was almost full which is always a good sign. Coffee and tea were nice without being anything to rave about, but the egg and bacon baguette certainly is! Couldn't fault it, delicious! My better half had the Eggs Benny and the serve was very generous and she enjoyed it a great deal, though she was envious and wanted to swap for my baguette. A group booking for high tea must have been later on as some of cakes and treats were being brought out and made us both salivate. Will be coming back for the baguette and a high tea date with the kids for sure. Sight knock, the window, sills and floor were a bit dirty/dusty. Slight knock only due to them setting off my wife's sinuses.
Confessions Of A Foodie
+3.5
Busy, but great place for brunch after or on the way to Sherbrooke in the dandenongs. Good service and cosy interior. I ordered a chai latte and the pancakes, both of which were satisfying but not amazing. The omelet was somewhat of a similar story - I felt as though there was something missing? But despite that, it's a cute place that I'd come back to.
Had a really nice breakfast here. Eggs Benedict very nice but the baguette was winner. Massive coffees were great and should sort anyone's caffeine fix. Good service and nice kids corner
Nice place. Tasty homemade scones. Good chips. Sunday afternoon tea - very busy and loud. Struggled having my grandparents hear us! Cute interiors, but could do with a nice refresh. Staff were friendly enough, nothing special.
Dined here last week.
Ordered burger with the lot. Best burger I have had in a long time! Went well with their Drake shiraz.
Chairs need some serious cushions.
Service very hospitable.
Free entertainment from the parrots outside.
To celebrate Mother's Day, I booked a high tea for myself, my mum and my dad. Everything was amazing! Sensational food, drinks (as many as you like!) and service...and what a lovely view! The afternoon sunlight through the trees and a few rosellas perched on the branches near our window. I enjoyed all of the food, but my favourite tier was the last one! Blondies, salted caramel tarts, vanilla bean cheesecake and yummy figs!! :D Wonderful experience and such a great price. Highly recommended!
Given the name all I was expecting a simple cafe with lots of tea options. Besides the the many teas to choose from the cafe offers a breakfast menu and a extensive choice for lunch. Went with the yummy burger (and fries) and treated myself with a chocolate milkshake.
The little shop is filled with old school charm.. From the old chairs and tables to little flower arrangements it takes you away to planet where things are tuned back and the word stress doesn't exist:).
We were served by friendly staff and were very helpful.
We had a double pot of Think Straight which was delicious! The scones were warm and tasted divine. The lemon white chocolate cheese cake was very fresh and was tasty.
I Like Food And Games
+4.5
Amazing mixed berry jam and scones
TASTE - The mixed berry jam (home made I think) is worth the trip out here by itself, other food options are good also if you don't like scones
VALUE - reasonable to above average value for what you get (prices are standard but I think the food is better than average)
COELIACS - decent choice of gluten free options - especially cakes in the counter (one of their staff is coeliac so they seem pretty switched on)
WORTH GOING BACK? - Yes, and definetly give the scones and mixed berry jam a go if you like scones
Went for late lunch - asparagus dish was fresh and really delicious.
Only downside was having to wipe my own table! I can't believe one of the staff handed me my own cloth to wipe it!
Melbourne Foodie Lover
+3.5
Love the food here for a afternoon snack, tea and coffee is lovely and really good service, reasonably priced for the everyday person, will be back
It's a nice little cafe in Kallista. All day breakfast and lunch in a very nice setting. On a nice day sitting outside is great, though the road is a little close at times so it can be a bit noisy but that actually makes you notice when there are no cars, the quiet of the forest. So it's a great place to go for some food before or after a walk through the Parks around the place.
Went with friends for a nice relaxing Sunday lunch. Two of us had the pulled pork burger which was lovely with the apple and dill coleslaw. One had the breakfast burrito which is usually vegetarian but had added bacon, which was incorporated into the burrito which was a great touch. And finally someone had the hash brown breakfast. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal with either juice, coffee or iced coffee.
It was a very relaxing experience and the wait staff were sufficiently attentive without being over bearing, especially since we were sitting outside. Definitely a place to go back to.
Always a favourite for tourists as you can feed birds easily. I wouldn't go for the main meals but usually have decent scones and cream. Coffee is good as are hot chocolates.
Quaint little cafe in Kallista, tucked away in a corner next to the forest. Had a really nice feel to it all and the food was quite nice. I had the chilli eggs which were really well made - the flavours were really well balanced and presentation was excellent
Stopped in at the Kallista Tea Rooms by accident actually - someone had recommended a place in Kallista for breakfast and we forgot the name and thought it was this one. I'm really glad we did. It was a quiet-ish Tuesday morning with only one person behind the counter, but we got fast and friendly service, enjoyed being stared at by about two dozen cockaoos perched in the large tree overlooking the cafe, and we enjoyed an excellent fried mushroom breakfast with spinach and cottage cheese.
Lovely decor too - photo attached!
Had a delightful afternoon here lunching whilst it lightly rained and the fat cockatoos stared at us through the windows. The food was pretty good - I had mushroom, basil pesto pasta (it was gluten free and tasted quite good! I'm not on a gluten free diet) and my companions had chilli beans, egg on toast and pumpkin and pear soup (you couldn't really taste the pear). The Lindt hot chocolate was sooo yummy - you must try it!! Highly recommend popping in, even if it's just for a cuppa!!
Lovely place. Friendly staff. Beautiful birds having breakfast at the same time as you behind the window. The cappuccino was a real cappuccino there and the breakfast was excellent
This is my second review, and just want to share my latest experience, which was once again very positive. I arrived on a Saturday without a booking and it was very busy, but I was able to get a table. After I had ordered, the waitress came over and was very apologetic and explained she'd accidentally sat me at a table that was already booked for a family that had come in. She asked me politely if I'd mind moving to a smaller table seeing as I was on my own and that my coffee would be for free. I thought that this was great service and it was nice if them to compensate for the error they had made.
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A real gem.. Came here for morning tea for the first time with my mum and 4 kids. We all loved it. Very child friendly and all the cakes looked amazing with lots of gluten free options which my mum and I both need. Service was great and the food we had was beautiful. Will definitely be coming back.
Both meals were very filling and delicious. I haven’t thought of adding smoked salmon to scrambled eggs before but it’s something I look forward to cooking in the future. Mum’s Baguette was huge. She wasn’t able to finish it but she enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to going back there one day for High Tea.
Well my lovely readers, I think I have found my favourite cafe in the Dandenongs thus far... The food, service, and setting were all excellent. I can’t believe I have not been here earlier!
Great food, great service. Really impressed with the menu and the level of service and food as well as the wines. Will be back.
Try the dandelion latte.. We stopped here on the way home from the National Rhododendron Garden. The dandelion latte and the scones, served with berry jam and cream, were excellent. It was also nice to watch the birds. I'd be happy to come here again.
TRANQUIL ME TIME. This place is AMAZING whether im alone or with friends. This is the first place i will recommend for a lovely outting. Food is DELISH home made BIG serves at a great price. Staff are always friendly and happy to meet needs. The view is THE BEST so sureal sitting under a big tree watchin nature take its place. No matter what season it always warms my heart. I can sit here for hours watching the world go by. Im so glad i discovered this place also from a friends review and have never looked back.
Wonderful staff, Wonderful food, Wonderful experience!. Best place ever, great staff, great food and lovely location and environment!
Seriously, my partner and I regularly grab coffee form KTR and every time we pop in its such an amazing experience! Many great memories there! Many great meals too!
xx
What a wonderful hills cafe! Came here on a Sunday for high tea with a group, and loved every second of it. The finger sandwiches were colourful, tasty and unique. The small savouries were full of flavour, the Thai chicken bites a fave, served on a cute Chinese soup spoon. Mini sweets delish and scones! Best on the mountain. Amazing job. Compliments to the chef and the wait staff. Will certainly be back!
Easy lunch at Kallista Tea Rooms. Took the family there for lunch. Sat outside and had a beautiful meal that was larger than I expected. Awesome boutique beer. White rabbit Dark Ale which is a favourite. I hope they are around for a long time as I want to eat natural local produce in a pleasant environment with friendly laid back service. Nice coffee too.
Rusty
Never disappointed, delicious food and very cosy
Enjoyed a lovely dinner - great food very good service,
Satisfied!. What I love most about this place is the location. Wonderful atmosphere. The portions were huge and extremely yummy and filling. Food took more than 30 minutes to arrive though. So by the time we dug in, everyone was starving! Would return for sure.. but not an empty stomach.
Overall a great visit but coffee was burnt and way too hot
Delicious. Best service and food. And the afternoon teas are delicious.
Breakfast. Poach eggs ,just a picture in a plate, leaving you wanting for more delicious cook to perfection.
Have been here a few times now and have always had a pleasant experience. I had their scones last weekend - and it was absolutely yummy!! Nice & warm & fluffy!!
Hadn't realised the Kallista Tea Rooms were open for dinner until last night. Nice surprise! The menu and the wine list is limited and the servings aren't huge. But it was just what was needed for a really informal quiet meal on Saturday night. Food [steak for me fish for companion] was good and interesting. Much better value for money than many restaurants in the hills - we'll be back and bring others with us.
Just lovely. The location is great. The food is always good and service friendly and cheerful. They are always happy to fix things when not ok. Very family friendly and a favourite with the locals. Have had many friends with specific dietary requirements come with us and the staff have bent over backwards to ensure they were able to enjoy the meal. We will definitely visit again and again!
Wonderful. Hi, This is a wonderful little spot. Great ambience and nice staff, who are willing to help.
The hot chocale it delicous.
Good coffee. Nice orange and poppy seed cake but service was quite slow.
Delish!. My boyfriend & I went here on Sunday, lovely amtopshere! friendly staff! food was delicious, i had mushroom/spinach and feta on sourdough bread! I couldn't even finish it all! will be back!
Really like the feel of the place, great coffee, and super friendly service. Def a place to check out in the area.
Great. I go here on a regular basis, food has never dissapointed me.
Being a vegetarian, my choices can be slim pickings. Here its a delight.
The menu has decreased in size a bit, i have noticed. But hopefully that is just over the winter months.
I will be seeing you guys very soon!
Beautiful coffee, so far the best we've tasted on the area. Nice atmosphere. Friendly service. Yummy breakfast (we had eggs and pancakes). Recommended to book for a table on Sunday though.
Enjoy your coffee with the cockatoos at Kallista Tea Rooms. On this occasion, I ordered the Brioche French Toast ($18.50) with coconut custard, berries, pear and macadamia crunch. My dining companion chose the Frittata of the Day ($15). The lattes ($4.50) were delightful and the service was fast and friendly. You can easily book online to ensure you get a table. The window tables are best for bird watching and parking is located behind the cafe.
A very nice place for brunch or lunch. Spacious and got a very good atmosphere to chill where surrounded by heaps of cute cockatoos. Staff were friendly. Their foods and drinks were average though.
Overall it’s a cool spot to stop by :)
Nice place with a great view inside, if you are lucky to sit beside the window and watch Cockatoos. Loved the coffee and the fact they had Lactose free milk available for my wife. Scones are the best ✌️
Service- staff are helpful and very quick moving.
Food- Scones are great, quite standard. Ordered the pancakes as well but it’s fairly small portion and it’s not the common pancakes that you get from other places. 🥞
Not my type of pancakes unfortunately.
(Still don’t know what’s the white thing in the pancake dish)
Environment- decoration are good with nice wallpapers in the bathroom. Outdoor space to the back parking area has many birds
Advices: fix the hand washing chemical dispenser
Would come again for other items on the menu if it’s on the way.
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Visited on a wet Saturday afternoon, made a booking in advance so we didn’t have to wait for a table or sit outside - so glad we did this!
The setting is beautiful! Very warm and welcoming on a cold, rainy day! The decorations inside were very cute and “old school”. They had some locally sourced honey in jars and post cards for sale too! Staff were friendly and nice! There were also a good array of cakes and pastries to choose from at the counter.
The drinks we ordered were lovely! The chai had great flavour and was so easy to drink, the perfect sweetness too. The coffees came piping hot and were good and strong.
We ordered 2 serves of scones, they were huge and came piping hot right out of the oven, we received 2 types of jam, one blackberry and raspberry i think. Both were good.
The chocolate and raspberry cake was very rich and decadent, but a smidge too sweet for my liking. it was hard to finish the whole piece of cake because of how rich, chocolatey and sweet it was. The side of cream it came was a good contrast.
Overall, we had a really good time and experience here and would definitely recommend to friends and revisit!
📸 Scones with jam and cream, Chocolate came with raspberry, Prana Chai, Large Flat White, Small Latte
It was a beautiful day for a drive through the mountain trees in the Dandenongs. The Mrs wanted Scones so off we went. The Scones were my wife's best ones she's ever tasted. So it was a great choice to stop at on this beautiful day. My lemon meringue pie was great as well. Our coffees were a great addition to our seating. Great food and drinks, what else do you need?
Top-notch service! the owner is very attentive to make sure all the customers are looked after. Best scone in town. Haven’t had anything better in Melbourne. We’ll see you next time.
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Kallista Tea Room has been on my to-visit list for a while and when we decided to drop in, at lunch on a weekday, I was very pleasantly surprised.
Let's talk food: AMAZING. I had the chilli eggs and would heartily recommend: just the right amount of kick and full of flavour. Hubby had the brioche french toast, slightly elevated from your typical fare by the delicious addition of pear compote and coconut custard. A must have for all the sweet tooths out there. The prices were maybe a touch on the dearer side (think tourist pricing) though I personally think reasonable enough for the quality.
As far as atmosphere think ecclectic-bush-hole-in-the-wall; a big tick in my book. With a laid-back, chill vibe it's perfect for a long, gossipy cuppa or just a quick bite to eat.
Of note and one of the HUGE highlights for me was the picturesque native cockatoo viewing: free with lunch. The interior of the cafe has a section with this glorious picture window showing the local winged residents chilling, pruning and putting on a free show. It was as unexpected as it was delightful.
I'll definitely be back: the high tea is calling my name.
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